Q. I am 52 years old. I did not have period for about a year. All of a sudden, I had a good amount of period last month, then it stopped. I am glad it did. However, my menopausal symptoms had increased. They include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, loss of sexual drive, weight gain, depression and extreme fatigue. How much longer would I suffer from these symptoms? Can you recommend holistic treatment for them?

A. The symptoms you described are typical menopausal symptoms. With proper treatment, these menopausal symptoms can be controlled. Otherwise, they can linger for the rest of your life. The following holistic treatment methods are most effective for menopause according to my clinical experience:

1. Anti-Yeast Nutritional Program:

When you follow my “Eight Commandments:” no sugar, no dairy, no wheat, no yeasts, no caffeine, no alcohol, no nicotine, nor chemicals, your symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings will be under control.

Meditate daily to reduce your day-to-day-stress. Go to my website: www.drjsbest.com to download a FREE 10-minute meditation guide. If you practice daily, you will enjoy peace and harmony in your life whether you are in menopause or not.

4. Regular Exercise:

Regular exercise improves blood circulation, and gives you a regular supply of endorphins (a natural chemical that can make you feel calm and happy). Regular exercise also burns calories and reduces weight. If you experience extreme fatigue, just start slow walking or in-place jogging for five minutes, and gradually build up.

When you adopt the above holistic approach, you will be able to reduce or eliminate menopausal symptoms and enjoy the absence of monthly inconvenience!

I have been feeling sluggish for years. Fatigue, mind fog, and allergies had contributed to my loss of libido. I have been reading Dr. J’s articles in a holistic magazine. I am glad that I finally had the courage to call her. Dr. J put me on Herbal Detox (Yeast-Para Control and Cleansing-Balance Tea) and Male Vitality.

I have been on Dr. J’s regimen for three months now. My energy level has increased, mental concentration has improved, and allergy symptoms such as sinus congestion are clearing up. Most of all, I regained my sexual interest. I am dating again!!!

The first few weeks I went through several episodes of cleansing crisis. I had frequent headaches and body aches. As time goes by, my cleansing symptoms are subsiding, and each time it gets easier and easier like Dr. J had informed me. In less than a month, I got my period! I am ovulating and I know I am much healthier if I got pregnant. I am now adding Weight Managementprogram to lose about 15 pounds. I just love the Herbal Cocktailsmoothie with rice milk and one of the Dr. J recommended fruits. It’s so delicious, and it also curbs my appetite and takes away my sugar craving.

Even though Dr. J does not guarantee that I would get pregnant, I feel so much healthier and happier. Thank you very much Dr. J!

For consultation on yeast-free nutrition, herbal detox, hormonal imbalance, weight control, stress management, and spiritual counseling, please call us at (800) 715-3053, or (818) 472-2213, or send an e-mail to drj@drjsbest.com. Consultation sessions over Skype or the telephone are also available. For more information, visit our website: www.drjsbest.com.

Q. Can oral sex cause yeast infections or bladder infections? Can antibiotics or anti-fungal drugs help? I have yeast infection symptoms such as redness and itching every time I receive oral sex from my boyfriend. Occasionally I also get bladder infections. My doctor gave me Diflucan and antibiotics. But the redness and itching keep coming back, and it does not prevent bladder infections. What should I do?

A. Oral sex can cause recurrent yeast infections and/or bladder infections if your boyfriend has yeast infections. Like I indicated in previous articles, man and woman have “equal opportunity” to contract yeast infections. You both need to be treated; otherwise, you two can pass yeast infections back and forth to each other.

Antibiotics may stop bladder infections temporarily, but they cause yeast overgrowth and makes the situation worse. Diflucan or any anti-fungal drugs are chemicals that clog your liver and kidneys. They may temporarily inhibit the symptoms, but do not cleanse the toxins.

Here are my recommendations:

Herbal Therapy:

Take our Herbal Detoxprogram: Yeast-Para Controland Cleansing-Balance Tea, to remove excess yeasts, parasites, and toxins. You and your boyfriend need to take the full dosage until you are symptom-free. Afterwards, stay on the maintenance dosage for prevention.

Yeast-Free Nutritional Program:

Try to adhere to a yeast-free nutritional program that contains no sugar, no dairy, no wheat, no yeasts, no caffeine, no alcohol, no nicotine, nor chemicals. My clients call it “Dr. J’s Eight Commandments”. It may be a tall order, because most people are used to the Standard American Diet (SAD) that is loaded with no-no’s. To learn what to eat and what to avoid, follow my yeast-free cookbook, Healthy and Tasty: Dr. J’s Anti-Yeast Cooking.

Good Hygiene:

Abstain from oral sex for a while. Remember, both of you need to be treated. When you are ready to try it again, make sure that both of you take a shower, brush your teeth, and scrape your tongues. Mouthwash is recommended. A good hygiene can minimize the chances for you to contract yeast and/or bladder infections. Have you heard of the expression, “Being clean is sexy”?

Topical Treatment:

To get some temporary relief, use a cotton ball soaked with Witch Hazel to dab on affected areas. When the solution is dry, smear Vitamin E oil on it. That will stop the itching temporarily. Make sure you wear surgical gloves to prevent spreading.

Stress Management:

Not everyone receiving oral sex will contract yeast and/or bladder infections. Infections occur when your immune system is weak. The above regimens will strengthen your immune system from a physical perspective. You will also need to remove your mental toxins as well. Read my book: Breaking the Yeast Curse: Food and Unconditional Love for Magic Healing.It gives you a few tools to manage your stress effectively. You can also consider private consultation sessions with myself.

For consultation on yeast-free nutrition, herbal detox, hormonal imbalance, weight control, stress management, and spiritual counseling, please call us at (800) 715-3053, or (818) 472-2213 or send an e-mail to drj@drjsbest.com. Consultation sessions over Skype or the telephone are also available. For more information, visit our website: www.drjsbest.com.

Q. I just went through menopause. My husband and I used to enjoy sex. Lately I feel pain during the intercourse and burning sensation after sex. I also crave sugar like mad. I don’t like to take drugs. What can I do to get rid of these symptoms?

A. It sounds like both you and your husband have yeast infections. For you, yeast infections can make your vaginal tissue raw and sensitive to friction. Decrease of estrogen can also cause dryness and painful intercourse. If you feel the burning sensation, it is probably due to the possibility that your husband’s semen is loaded with yeasts.

In this case both you and your husband need to be treated. Otherwise, you would be giving yeast infections back and forth to each other.

Here are my recommendations:

Yeast-Free Nutrition:

This is a nutritional program you and your husband need to adhere to as much as you can for life. It contains no sugar, no dairy, no wheat, no yeasts, no caffeine, no alcohol, no nicotine, nor chemical. All of these items will feed the yeasts and parasites, clog your liver and kidneys, and thus worsen the overgrowth of yeasts and parasites. To learn what to eat and what to avoid, follow my yeast-free cookbook, Healthy and Tasty: Dr. J’s Anti-Yeast Cooking.

The sexiest organ is your brain. If you and your husband have unresolved psychological issues, this can cause problems in the bedroom. Read my book, Breaking the Yeast Curse: Food and Unconditional Love for Magic Healing. It gives you a few tools to manage stress more effectively. If you want to consider psychological counseling, the following is the contact information.

For consultation on yeast-free nutrition, herbal detox, hormonal imbalance, weight control, stress management, and spiritual counseling, please call us at (800) 715-3053 or (818) 472-2213, or send an e-mail to drj@drjsbest.com. Consultation sessions over Skype or the telephone are also available. For more information, visit our website: www.drjsbest.com.

In order to control your weight permanently, you need to nourish your body, mind, and spirit on a consistent basis. As described in the previous article, it’s important to follow a yeast-free nutritional program so your body will not suffer new assaults. It’s also important to use Herbal Cocktailto curb your appetitite and sugar craving, Fitness Regularas a fat blocker, and Fitness Plus as a fat burner.

The following strategies will help you manage your stress and balance your spirit effectively:

Manage Your Stress Effectively:

Psychological stress, if managed properly, can be motivating and beneficial. The first step is to accept instead of resist stress. Accept the fact that you are being challenged and that every challenge gives you an opportunity to grow and expand.

Life is like school: before you can obtain a diploma or degree, you must be willing and able to do your homework and pass a series of tests. The good news is that even if you fail, the universe will provide you with unlimited opportunities to go through the tests again and again until you past them! Therefore, your clock is not ticking. Time is irrelevant!

Follow the Emotion Releasing Technique instructions in Chapter 11 of Breaking the Yeast Curse: Food and Unconditional Love for Magic Healing, to release your psychological toxins and allow yourself to move on with your life with a clean slate. Some self-administered techniques such as self-hypnosis, meditation, prayers and affirmations can also be helpful in reducing stress physically and psychologically. If psychological stress becomes paralyzing, then you should seek competent professional help.

Restore Spiritual Balance:

Spiritually speaking, we all chose our destiny when we were born into this life. No matter what kind of life situation we are in, we are given an opportunity to prove that we have the strength, tenacity, wisdom and faith to overcome obstacles and excel.

The only way to get out of the rut of a dysfunctional life situation is to exercise your unconditional love and wisdom.

Use the principles described in Chapter 11 of Breaking the Yeast Curse: Food and Unconditional Love for Magic Healing to understand, accept, forgive and release. Once you can release the negative emotions toward those who have done you wrong, you can release the negative past that has been haunting you. When you no longer carry the old baggage, you no longer carry the excess weight! Love and respect yourself as the most unique, creative and miraculous person in the world. If you cannot accomplish this on your own, seeking help from a spiritually-oriented, well-grounded therapist can be fruitful.

Exercise Daily:

One last thing I want to stress is the importance of exercising daily. It’s common sense that exercise improves your blood circulation, brings more oxygen to your body cells, burns calories, and generates endorphins. Endorphins are natural hormones, and are considered as morphine from within. Morphine is a pain killer. If you experience stiffness or arthritic pain, exercise will reduce or eliminate the aches and pains. From a psychological perspective, endorphins also gives you calm, high feelings. Because these feelings don’t last, you need to exercise everyday to generate new supplies of endorphins.

You might say, “I don’t have the membership to a gym!” You can exercise without a gym. You can do slow walking in your neighborhood or in a park for 30 minutes a day, or you may jog in place for 10 minutes a day to start. When there is a will, there is a way!

Your weight and health problems did not occur overnight. Naturally, becoming trim and getting well takes time. Only your complete understanding of the illness and wellness process, as well as commitment and patience, will bring you positive and permanent results!

For consultation on yeast-free nutrition, herbal detox, hormonal imbalance, stress management, and spiritual counseling, please call us at (800) 715-3053, or send an e-mail to drj@drjsbest.com. Consultation sessions over Skype or the telephone are also available.

Excess weight is a very costly health problem which can be associated with life threatening conditions such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disorders, gallbladder disease and metabolic dysfunction. Being overweight can negatively affect health, appearance, self-esteem, and even earning potential. Some researchers estimate that each pound of extra fat can cost an executive $1,000 a year in income.

As mentioned previously,an average American eats 120 pounds of sugar per year. From birth to age 70, on the average, an American eats eight cows, nine pigs and 15,000 eggs. A well-balanced diet should contain less than 20% fat, less than 20% protein and more than 40% complex carbohydrates. Excess intake of fat, protein and sugar can turn into overstorage of fat. Americans also tend to overeat or not to eat at regular hours. Some skip breakfasts and others have big meals right before bedtime. Irregular hours and portions can confuse your biological clock and jeopardize your metabolic function.

Yeast Disorders:

As described in previous articles, yeast disorders are misdiagnosed and improperly treated by most medical professionals. In addition to all the symptoms from head to toe such as foggy mind, allergies, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), chronic fatigue, low enegy, immune deficiency, arthritis-like aches and pains, skin rash, vaginal yeast infections, male yeast infections, depression, anxiety, etc, a persistent overweight condition can be an indication that your metabolic function is being jeopardized by stubborn yeast disorders.

Yeast can creep in to any part of your body, especially sites which are weak to begin with. For instance, if your thyroid gland is weak, then opportunistic yeasts can particularly affect your metabolic function and cause further deterioration. If yeast disorders are not corrected, the weight problem will persist. Some clients complained to me that they gained weight even if they just drank water! Even though they may not have been as innocent as they portrayed themselves to be, there is some degree of reality in their complaint. The fact is that it is very difficult for them to lose weight, no matter how hard they try.

Some people manage to be in constant crises. For those who are used to a dysfunctional behavioral pattern, they feel anxious or uneasy if their lives are peaceful. Somehow they have to create a situation where there will be chaos, and thus their frantic behavior can be justified.

People who are not able to manage stress effectively will usually indulge themselves in emotional eating. Food is a symbol of love and comfort across cultures, especially for those who associate food with parental approval and attention.

Spiritual Imbalance:

Many overweight people suffer from spiritual imbalance because they carry a great deal of “unfinished business” on their shoulders. In most cases, they crave approval from their parents. Some are angry and hurt because they were abused sexually, mentally or physically during their childhood. The predominant emotions are anger, resentment, grief and regret. Some even feel sorry for themselves and feel that their negative feelings are well justified. Usually they are unclear about the purpose of their existences. They tend to “live to eat,” instead of “eat to live.”

In the next article I will discuss natural remedies for effective weight control. Stay tuned.

For consultation on yeast-free nutrition, herbal detox, hormonal imbalance, stress management, and spiritual counseling, please call us at (800) 715-3053, or send an e-mail to drj@drjsbest.com. Consultation sessions over Skype or the telephone are also available.